Monday, March 27, 2006

Oh. My. God.

I feel physically ill. I don't know what to do.

We just got home a little while ago. My neighbor two doors down came over and asked me if I had seen the white work van (no name or identifiers) that had passed by when we were checking the mail after arriving home. Yes, I did see it but paid little attention to it. She informed me that she SAW the guy driving lower his sunglasses as he slowed down and looked right at my daughter, who was standing at the front door as my son and I stood at the mailbox. He was CHECKING OUT MY 5 YEAR OLD. I want to vomit. I hope I'm not coming off like a drama queen. I'm genuinely upset and freaked out.

I thanked my neighbor profusely (she's about 22, married without kids and VERY sharp), I keep thinking what if she hadn't noticed? Not that my daughter ever goes anywhere unsupervised but if you watched the news at all, you may recall the Jessica Lunsford case where the girl was taken right from her bedroom, raped and then buried alive. I also recall that the man who abducted Shasta Groene and her brother (who was murdered) "found" them while driving past their house and seeing them outside. He later went back and abducted them after killing everyone else in the house. I'm not trying to scare anyone but these things are real. They happen, thus my strong reaction to such disturbing information.

I put a hold on the previous post because I had to vent and collect myself before I call my husband.

Please always be aware of what's going on around you.

posted by IzzyMom at

25 Comments:

  • WOAH...that is absolutely freakin horrible. I am so sorry that happened to you. Hugs :)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2006 02:26:00 PM  

  • oh, how terribly scary, you must be just covered in goosebumps right now. It's so sad that we have to try to figure out how to strike a balance between protective or even slightly paranoid and not making our kids into hostages of fear.

    By Blogger kittenpie, at 3/27/2006 02:29:00 PM  

  • I'm glad your neighbor mentioned what she saw. Any idea where he was working? Any writing on the van? Regardless of his intent, he frightened you (and her), and his employer should be alerted.

    By Blogger Julie Marsh, at 3/27/2006 02:45:00 PM  

  • That is horribly scary. Be vigilant to see if the van returns. Try to get a license plate and report your suspicions to authorities. He could have a record.

    Maybe I'm off the deep end, but it's better safe than sorry.

    By Blogger ms blue, at 3/27/2006 02:51:00 PM  

  • Creepy!!

    By Blogger Awesome Mom, at 3/27/2006 04:00:00 PM  

  • Scary. Vigilence is key. I hope that it was nothing, but you never know.

    By Blogger Kristi, at 3/27/2006 04:23:00 PM  

  • Yikes! I'd FLIP out...

    Its such a scary world we live in these days...makes you want to hide in the closet with your babies in your arms...

    ((hugs))

    By Blogger Emily, at 3/27/2006 05:08:00 PM  

  • Put locks on your windows ( these are extra locks so the window can't open--$1.00 at home depot) and get a security system if you don't have one. Put up motion detector lights around the house. Make it hard for the perv and they will move on. Also alert your neighborhood watch group.

    Hopefully there may be a chance that he was checking you out and not your daughter, but better safe than sorry.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2006 06:19:00 PM  

  • Did you call the police and simply give a report about the incident? I mean, this may not be the first time - nor may it have been the last that day.

    Sometimes, just telling an authority about it can be really helpful - as well as piecing together a larger puzzle.

    And it IS scary. There was a day when I was reading a abuse/neglect report for proper procedure and facts and I realized that I KNEW THIS FAMILY. Our daughters? Same age - same child care. I made Emily sleep with me that night.

    It's also why I make her wear bike shorts or leggings under all dresses. I have read too many reports about sexual abuse to know that you only need a few minutes.

    By Blogger Dawn, at 3/27/2006 06:31:00 PM  

  • That is scary! I'd keep an eye out for that van and get the license plate # next time you see it.

    Window locks and basic security measures aren't a bad idea, either. I keep meaning to install some basic (non-monitored) alarms in our house.

    By Blogger Christina, at 3/27/2006 06:31:00 PM  

  • It my be a little crazy but I have a list of registered sex offenders I check online once a month.one day I was at the local college where I was picking up my friends daughter. I noticed a jantior changing trashand he looked really faimlar. When i got home I followed my gut and checked my list. I made a copy of it and took it to my friend. It turns out that this man was indeed a sex offender. The college never knew. At that moment I was glad that I am a little crazy and overprotective.

    By Blogger Kat, at 3/27/2006 06:45:00 PM  

  • oh ugh, i've got icky goosebumps for you.

    By Blogger Erin M, at 3/27/2006 06:55:00 PM  

  • omg! That is totally freaky and totally eye opening!! I am so sorry you have to feel that way!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2006 07:34:00 PM  

  • Not being a drama queen at all; that's really scary. You're very fortunate to have such a sharp neighbor, though; now you're both watching for this creep. I would talk about it with the other neighbors and anyone in the neighborhood who will listen; ask them all to keep their eyes open.

    By Blogger Arabella, at 3/27/2006 07:49:00 PM  

  • That is so frickin' creepy! There are so many sickos in the world. You got to have eyes in the back of your head and aware of everything around you all the time.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2006 08:05:00 PM  

  • OK, that absolutely made my skin crawl. If a group of mothers with bats could just get a hold of a few of these creeps I think there would be a lot less of them lurking around.

    Thanks to Megan's Law we were able to go online and find out that our next door neighbor is a convicted sex offender... just another reason why we are moving.

    By Blogger Amy, at 3/27/2006 08:11:00 PM  

  • I don't see anything drama-queen-esque about it, it seems legit to be upset. Do make the phone call to the police, just their increased presence in your neighborhood may be enough to send him onward and they might see him and at least get his info for something. I would be afraid too, I really would.

    Jerri Ann
    jareason@gmail.com
    www.acracknlife.squarespace.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2006 09:03:00 PM  

  • Oh wow! Do what you need to do - extra locks, motion sensors, a moat with man-eating alligators - anything to keep your kids safe.
    Very scary indeed.

    By Blogger Chicky Chicky Baby, at 3/27/2006 10:06:00 PM  

  • Thanks for your advice and suggestions. I do appreciate it. Just wanted to give you an update. Hubz talked to our neighbor and she said the van had been sitting in front of the house across the street from her, which is being gutted and renovated. Nobody lives in it. It's basically a jobsite. She said as she was taking note of him, he started to drive away and she was creeped out. She stood in her sideyard and watched him drive towards my house and that when she saw him looking towards my daughter, who she says was actually in the yard, not at the door. She said it was then that she saw him literally swivel his head all the way to the right, pull down his glasses and, for lack of a better word, leer at my daughter as he slowed down. She seems pretty damned sure of what she saw and unfortunately, I believe her. Tomorrow, a detective is going to come by and take a statement from her and us.

    And Amy, the second day we lived here we found out we had a convicted sex offender living next to us. I called his probation officer to get the exact info and he was charged with having sex with a minor under 15. His PO said the girl was his stepdaughter and not a very young child. Not that it's any better really, but I was relieved that it wasn't with a child as young as mine was at the time (3). After about 8 months he was arrested on a drug charge and went back to jail. Now he lives a block away with his mother and I see him all the time. It's gross and creepy and I wish he would go to jail for good.

    God...this makes the PreK flasher seem like nothing Which, by the way for those who are interested, one of the other parents went to the teacher, who in turn talked to me. I told her I wanted her to be aware of it but that I didn't want a big deal made of it and she agreed. I guess she talked to the parents. We've been on Spring Break so I haven't heard much else.

    By Blogger IzzyMom, at 3/27/2006 10:06:00 PM  

  • Izzy ~ Sorry you have to go through this. People are crazy and sick. I'm glad you have the detective coming over. I'd be extra vigilant. We keep our dogs close to us at all times.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/27/2006 10:57:00 PM  

  • hey. hang in there. and if i were anywhere near you, i'd be hangin' out ready to kick some serious ass! i had an incident where there was a man who was staked out at the top of my street, on random days, for a couple of weeks. i finally called the police and he's never been back. it's a freaky feeling - when the reality of our twisted world shows up on your doorstep. but you're on top of it, and that's grounds to win that battle. best of luck to you. try not to worry too much. and thank your neighbor for the love she showed you. you, my friend, just got some good ju-ju.

    By Blogger noncommon, at 3/27/2006 11:53:00 PM  

  • Iz, that is horrible. I'm sooooooo sorry. I don't know what I'd do if I were you but I'd be losing it, that's for sure. everything will be okay. I know it.

    By Blogger MrsFortune, at 3/28/2006 11:53:00 AM  

  • oh my gosh that just turns my stomach! I have a 5 yr old and 3 1/2 yr old that play outside constantly (i live in a very tiny quaint little neighborhood) but never thought about someone "preying" on my children...thanks for the reminder/warning!

    By Blogger PC, at 3/28/2006 12:33:00 PM  

  • That's really really scary. It's great that you have neighbors watching out for each other.

    By Blogger Carolyn S., at 3/29/2006 11:06:00 AM  

  • Iz -- you are totally not a drama queen. Your update in the comment proves this guy was acting strangely. It's especially hard not to be unsettled when something like this happens in your neighborhood, near your home, where you should be safe. I hope this was an isolated incident.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/30/2006 10:17:00 AM  

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